Midway through the second round of the NBA draft on Thursday, ESPN analyst Jalen Rose took note of the run on international players who were selected but would still play overseas to develop for a year or two before coming to their NBA team.

Citing several U.S. players still on the board, and specifically naming Patric Young of Jacksonville, Rose lamented, “I wish those guys would get a chance.”

Young was ready for that chance but 60 times — 30 in each of the two rounds — another name was called instead of the University of Florida center who was projected as a second-round pick.

If Young didn’t know it before the draft he knows it now: basketball has ceased becoming a game and it’s now a business.

“I’m still trying to figure it out,” Young said on Friday. “I did everything right, the workouts, the interviews, the combines. I’m really surprised that I couldn’t be taken anywhere.”

Young, among other undrafted U.S. college players, fell victim in part to the NBA rules involving international talent, which allows a team to select a player and let him compete in his league overseas to either develop his skills further or fulfill the terms of his contract.

During that time, the NBA team doesn’t have to pay him, which frees up salary cap space. Within league circles, the process is called “Euro-stashing.”

Among the drafted players who will remain with their teams in other countries for at least another year are three first-rounders: Dario Saric of Croatia (76ers), Clint Capela of France (Rockets) and Bogdan Bogdanovic of Serbia (Suns).

Three players who went in the second round won’t play immediately for the NBA teams holding their draft rights: Nikoli Jokic of Serbia (Nuggets), Louis Lybeyrie of France (Knicks) and Vasilije Micic of Serbia (76ers).

Young was the 2014 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and averaged 6.2 rebounds per game. His limited scoring ability clearly hurt him in the eyes of NBA scouts. He averaged between 10 and 11 points per game in each of his final three seasons with the Gators.

Young still has an opportunity. He will play in the NBA summer league (Young doesn’t know for which team yet) when it begins in Orlando on July 5 and will be waiting as agent Jim Tanner explores undrafted free-agent possibilities.

“I don’t have anything to give you right now,” Young said of latching on with a team. “The summer league will be another chance to make a name for myself.”

Young wasn’t the only player who expected to be drafted but now must explore the free-agent waters. Also undrafted were Syracuse forward C.J. Fair, North Carolina forward James Michael McAdoo, Providence point guard Bryce Cotton and guards DeAndre Kane of Iowa State, Aaron Craft of Ohio State and Roscoe Smith of UNLV.

Four Florida players have made NBA rosters after going undrafted. Udonis Haslem made the most of his opportunity and just completed his 11th season, all with the Miami Heat after initially being signed by Atlanta. Haslem has become the team’s career rebounding leader and has three NBA championship rings.

The other Gator free agents have been Clifford Lett in 1989 and Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh in 2005.

Florida finished 36-3 last season and entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed, yet did not have a player drafted for the first time since 2010.

Still optimistic that his 6-foot-9, 250-pound body and work ethic will be valued by some NBA team, Young said he is trying to let go of the disappointment of draft night.

“This isn’t the end of the world,” he said. “I will have more chances to prove myself.”

Garry Smits: (904) 359-4362

Former Gator, Jacksonville native Patric Young puzzled by draft snub, not giving up on NBA- By